Looking forward to a Hillary Swank movie SHOCK!

And other news.

Yes you heard it. I am now looking forward to a Hillary Swank movie. Sure the woman annoys the living hell out of me, and sure I resent the fact she now ties Meryl Streep, Jodie Foster and Diane Weist for Oscar wins and beats out so many more better actresses, but 'Betty Ann Waters' sounds great - or at least the cast does.

Sure the film (which is based on a story of a woman (Swank) who spent years studying for a law degree in her spare time in an attempt to clear the name of her brother (Sam Rockwell), who had been convicted for a murder she was convinced he did not commit) sounds very 'been there slept through it the changed over from Lifetime television for woman' but the supporting players. Oh those supporting players.

Not only is Minnie 'please give her a comeback' Driver playing a supporting role, but Melissa 'I really should have won that Oscar' Leo has joined the cast.
It is the attack of the curly haired ladies!
Talk about lead actress in serious danger of being out-shined by her co-stars.
Then again this could all be hooey.
The last time screenwriter Richard LaGravenese and Swank teamed up we got 'Freedom Writers' and 'P.S. I Love You' - so do not hold your breath for something big.
'Betty Ann Waters' does not have the same ring as 'Erin Brockovich'. She sounds more like someone who would give womens advise in 'The American Conservative'



'The Green Hornet' has had more ups and downs with finding a director than (insert porn star/yo yo/elevator joke here).
the Seth Rogen comedy initially had Stephen Chow to direct and star as Kato. However he left directing duties of the movie (but will still play Kato) and it looked for a while that nothing would come of it. At least for a while.
Apparently Rogen wants something visionary and left of centre for his film.
In comes Michel Gondry.
And the superhero film will have another face lift.
Yee to the Ha.


Mark you calenders for the 2011 awards season boys and girls and cats and mice (dogs do not care for movie awards...proven by scientists).

8 years after Peter Weir got his 4th best director Oscar nomination for the 10 time Academy Award nominee 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World', he decides to make another pic.
The fact-based story centered on soldiers who escaped from a Siberian gulag in 1940. The film will be based on the acclaimed novel The Long Walk: The True Story Of A Trek To Freedom by Slavomir Rawicz.
The book chronicles a small band of prisoners from different countries who escape from a Siberian gulag in 1940, and their epic journey over thousands of miles across five hostile countries.

He is taking on writing duties and has a top notch cast signed up including Colin Farrel, Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris and Saoirse Ronan. I have to say I am very very happy with the choice young Saoirse has been making. She seems (or her agent) seems to be able to sniff out prestige very well.



And lastly. Remember me writing about this?
No, well there is the link to remind you.

Anywho it seems that Leonardo DiCaprio's company, Appian Way, and the people that brought us...ugh...'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' are in talks with Warner Bros. about a revival of the 1984 classic.
I know what you are thinking, how apt that the people who bought us 'Button' are wanting to do 'The NeverEnding Story' - how many jokes will be made about this I wonder.

Anywhooo. ...the new take is going to focus more Michael Ende's novel which is much more vast and darker in tone. Still I think the original movie was pretty damn dark enough (ARTEX!!!! NO!!!!)
The original book was told in two halfs so this will be a nice little fix post Harry Potter. Let's just hope they change the name of 'Fantasia' it is so silly a name for a fantasy relm.

'Adventure Land' trailer

Cute.

Oscar Fashions.

I like what I like. Simple as that.

Sure there was not a lot of colour on the red carpet on Sunday but perhaps that was a good thing (I mean poor Natalie Portman and her rather odd orange skin with a bright pink dress on a red carpet. She was a walking head ache with far too much make up - far too pretty a girl to be wearing so much make up) considering that when people do try it, they usually fail.

Here is my selection of the worst dressed. click to embiggen














Why is Heidi Klum (left) even there? Not only does her dress look like origami done by someone with no limbs, but her make up, hair and jewelry just scream 80's German lipstick lesbian.
And what the hell happened to Reese Witherspoon. That dress is like the brighter, uglier step-sister to Kate Winslet's dress.














Beyonce - When I was little me and a friend used to make dresses for Barbie (I know GAY) out of carpet samples. If only I had had a gold pen.
Who is this next woman? Jennifer Biel or some nonsense apparently. Looks like one of her implants has deflated then given birth to a saggier implant.


Now onto Best Dressed: (click to embiggen)














Halle Berry simply looked stunning. I mean she is impossibly beautiful anyway, but that black and gold dress (take note Beyonce) was stunning on her.
Some people thought Penelope Cruz looked too bridal. Whatever! She look absolutely stunning. How many more times will I use the word stunning you ask? Many, many more times. (tis late, am tired)














Wow did Taraji P Henson pull out all the stops. The dress looked like a opening flower and her necklace was just amazing. Stunning woman.
and my dear Meryl. She usually gets it wrong, but this was a classy ensemble. Everything was age appropriate.














I really do love Jennifer Aniston. She just looks like she would be a lot of fun. She leaves her usual black dress at home and goes for gold and cream and look divine.
My friend Jonathan said Marisa Tomei's dress looked like napkins. I thought it was stunning and different and she work the sh*t out of it.














My friend Dean thought Anne Hathaway was wearing a shovel. I thought the dress was stunning. The scales, the diamonds, the fact that she looks just so old style Hollywood. Stunning.
Viola Davis has worked the red carpets like a pro. She looks amazing every time we see her, and although gold was a brave choice for the Oscars, she pulled it off. Stunning.

This was brought to you by the word 'stunning' and the number 3.

Change

So I was going to do a year in advance predictions however I changed my mind. I was walking through the maze of London underground thinking if I should predict Michael Caine for 'Harry Brown' (pictured)when it occurred to me.
Who the f*ck cares.
Sure there are a lot of fellow bloggers who do these predictions, and I look forward to them every year (mainly because they give a voice to films that may have not been on my horizon), but I just do not care. Hence doing a sort of 'Most Anticipated' by Oscar category.

Firstly I do not want to waste time stressing over who will get nominated for what, and watching movies solely to pick them apart. I simply want to sit back and enjoy the films.

Secondly it takes a hell of a lot of research to do this and although I have the time, I realize there are people out there who are much much better at it. So I will be linking to them instead and I will concentrate on other things.

Thirdly (is that a word?) every time it is more of a case of wishful thinking and heart over head. I end up looking totally idiotic to myself.

Lastly, to accurately be able to predict, in advance the outcome of the Oscars, I would have to think like an Academy member. That is the last person I would like to think like.

To be honest, 'Shutter Island' does not excite me, s why waste time writing about it. Sure I may watch it and love it, but what is the point. Should the point of this blog be to talk about the things that I like? It is amazing how I have lost track of the point of My Stuff and Crap. Secondly I really wish I could change the name and url of this site. Anyone know how?

Worship at the House of Meryl

Jose is right. Meryl Streep may be God. She has taken over Jacks place as front row Oscar royalty.
On the red carpet she can be seen chatting to just about anyone and everyone. Even at the after parties. It seems everyone loves the woman so that long over due Oscar should be on its way.
I mean look!

Sketching the Oscars

I love Sophia Loren. I do
Still her rather strange skin colour on screen made my friends chuckle. After best Actress was announced my dear friend Lee passed around a sketch he did of the Oscar winning actress.


We laughed a little too hard, it bordered on being mean.
May have to get him to do this every year. Oscar the sketches.

'Veronika Decides to Die' trailer

Looks like it could be interesting, or perhaps it could be just tedious. These tyoe of trailers that aim for art and cerebral usually tend to be neither.
We shall see. Still hoping for post 'Buffy' great things from Gellar.

I'll show you my lower Manhattan.

Is it wrong to be completely crushing on a Dr. Manhattan from 'Watchmen'? I know I am not the only one, but somehow it feels kind of obviously kinky and that is so unlike me.
Perhaps it is because it is Billy Crudup behind the CGI or perhaps it is the emotionally distant way he speaks. God knows I like my men emotionally distant....drive me crazy but so not healthy....I mean, I could never live on Mars.

Revisions

Ok, so much has been said about the Oscar ceremony. I have read positive and negative comments. And it seems people are all over the place with what they liked and what they didn't like.

Hugh Jackman was sensational, although more of him would have been better.
I mean he was so vastly entertaining, humble and not afraid to laugh at himself.
Plus his song about 'The Reader' was priceless. I have not laughed so much at the Oscars before.
He did so much to make the show more glitzy and glamorous all the while making it seem more relaxed and intimate.



I am now beginning to like Beyonce and beginning to love Anne Hathaway. You know she will do a musical after that.

I personally thought Ben Stiller was embarrassing. I actually forget now what award he was presenting and who ever won it, and whoever were nominated will be forgotten because Ben Stiller just had to pull a prank (and as pranks go, it is already far too old).
Kind of shows no respect for these people. This is their category and their night to shine.

I did not get the movie montages, and felt they ate away at the time. I would have preferred a longer preamble and explanation of each award. Long examples of each one so at least I could understand the difference between Sound Mixing and Sound Editing.

If you have someone present the awards, they should not talk about themselves, they should talk about the award they are presenting. Also please make Steve Martin and Tine Fey teach classes on awards presentation.

I loved the way the awards were handed out, with the techs and artistic ones following the journey of how a film is made. Kind of educational.

I LOVED the new way of handing out the acting Oscars. Five previous winners coming out to pay tribute and praise each nominees work. As a viewer it softens the blow when your favorite does not win, as I am sure it does to the nominee.
Seeing Viola Davis overcome with emotion was a highlight. However I would have still liked to have seen a clip. Perhaps after each presenter could have introduced a clip.
Sure it elongates the suspense and running time, but each of those actors have gone through months of campaigning and interviews for this moment. Shine a stronger light on them.
Some critics felt it was too lovey-dovey Hollywood schmaltz, and at times it got a little much I admit, but this is a night for them as much as it is a night for us as viewers so suck it up audience. If I were nominated I would want a BIG deal made!

Meryl Streep should have much more screen time.

I must say, after watching the back stage cam I have a new pity for each Oscar winner. That room looks like a nightmare.

And lastly this.....what were they saying to each other? Oh to be a fly on the wall

Passionpit - 'Sleepyhead'

My cotton socks this song is hypnotic. I am like one of those Bush Babies staring at this.
These guys are an American electro band from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Check them out on myspace.

Ladyhawke

And not the Michelle Pfeiffer film.
Phillipa "Pip" Brown, better known by her stage name Ladyhawke, is a London based, New Zealander solo singer-songwriter. This over achiever plays all the instruments in studio, although tours with a band.
Where as artists like the Ting Tings have cornered the 80's influenced, punk market, they seen like fluff compared with Pip. She seems like the real deal.
her album 'Paris Is Burning' is released on June 30 by Modular/Island, with the debut album to follow in September.

My Delirium
Her current track, even the BF likes it.



Dusk Till Dawn
Hysterical 80's inspired video.



Back of the Van
Does anyone else see the strange hybrid of 80's Aimee Man, Pat Benatar and Heart?



Paris in Burning
Here she take on the vocal riff from Gary Numan's 'Cars', giving it a fab new reinvention

Dubstar

While looking at video's for Saint Etienne I was reminded of this group whose track 'Stars' I absolutely love!

Thought I would share it with you.



Also check out the re-released remix which was more successful.

Is it asking too much to be given time,
To know these songs and to sing them?
Is it asking too much of my vacant smile,
And my laugh and lies that bring them?

But as the stars are going out,
And this stage is full of nothing,
And the friends have all but gone,
For my life, my God, I'm singing.

We'll take our hearts outside,
Leave our lives behind,
And watch the stars go out.

We'll take our hearts outside,
Leave our lives behind,
And watch the stars go out.

Is it asking too much of my favourite friends,
To take these songs for real?
Is it asking too much of my partner's hands,
To take these songs for real?

But as the stars are going out,
And this stage is full of nothing,
And the friends have all but gone,
For my life, my God, I'm singing.

We'll take our hearts outside,
Leave our lives behind,
And watch the stars go out.

'Funny People' - trailer

New Judd Apatow comedy which I am sure will do great business. However, I need some sort of believability. No way would anyone leave Eric Bana for Adam Sandler. Even if he did have a rub and tug.
And when does making fun of people's accent = comedy? I just though it equaled school yard bullying. Christ...no wonder he had a rub and tug, living with that bitch.

Old

That is exactly how I feel right now when I realize that little Rudy Huxtable is now playing a whore is 'Madea Goes to Jail'.

A WHORE!!!

THIS


Adorable little ray of sunshine has grown up and now looks like. . . this . . .


When did this happen?
How was it allowed?
First Denise, now Rudy. Please tell me Vanessa is out there baking pies for her family and Sondra is a high flying lawyer.

Madonna on Keira

Keira Knightly wears a Stella McCarthy T-shirt designed especially for Comic Relief. It is all just far too pretty!

Oscar Night

I will speak more about the show later on, (exhausted right now) but I have to say I LOVED the new format (Hugh rocked it) and loved the way they presented the acting awards (very personal and paid tribute to each nominee - still missed my clips though).

Hated Ben Stiller as he totally took away from the award he was presenting. And Cuba Gooding Jr. needs to never come back.

Winners listed below.

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, Milk
Best Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Animated Feature: WALL-E
Best Animated Short: La Maison en Petites Cubes
Best Art Direction: Benjamin Button
Best Costume Design: The Duchess
Best Makeup: Benjamin Button
Best Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Animated Short: Toyland
Best Documentary Feature: Man on Wire
Best Documentary Short: Smile Pinki
Best Visual Effects: Benjamin Button
Best Sound Editing: The Dark Knight
Best Sound Mixing: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Film Editing: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Music Score: A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Song: Jai Ho, Slumdog Millionaire

Happy Oscars!!!

Well tonight we will find out who wins what. Of course my predictions will not come true (I am from the 'wishful thinking' line of voting) but I hope they at least reflect the Academy in that there will be some major surprises.

This season has left a bad taste in my mouth.

Firstly, and I know I am not alone with this, there is only one film in the top 5 that really and truly deserves to be there.
In a few years time we will all look back on this year and I am pretty sure 'Milk' will still hold up ('WALL-E', 'The Dark Knight', 'The Wrestler' and 'Waltz With Bashir' will most likely still be revered in a few years time too) but the others....well, I guess they were easy to put down as 'best' of the year since they give the illusion of prestige. Upon closer inspections and distance all the cracks will appear.

The other thing that has left a bad taste, and I will probably be alone with this, is Kate Winslet.

I love the woman.

I really think she deserves to win an Oscar, and probably should have done a few year ago. I could fully rally behind her has she been nominated for 'Revolutionary Road' and could even smile when she (most likely) gets up on stage to accept the Best Actress Oscar for 'The Reader' had she not been so desperate for the award.
If Oscar had a dick, Kate would be sucking it.

Of course there are many many people who whore themselves out for an Oscar, but Kate has made her desire so public.
I mean type in 'Kate Winslet Wants Oscar' in Google and a gazillion interviews will come up with her saying just that.

This year it almost seems to me like if she wins, the Academy is freely admitting that these awards have nothing to do with the 'best' (we know this anyway, but knowing and admitting are vastly different) and, indeed can be bought and begged for.

I like my actors making great movies and delivering great performances. When and if they loose out on awards, they go on and continue to make great movies and deliver great performances.
They do not complain about being nominated and not winning. I do not want to hear about their disappointment...there are bigger fish to fry, and you crying about not winning a little gold award, when there is so much going on in the world, is just so selfish and ugly.

I mean, for six years, Kate Winslet has been singled out as one of the five best lead actresses of the year. Nothing to really complain about in the end. Sure the award would be nice, but it ain't like she is starving.

Well after tonight (or tomorrow morning for me) Kate will most likely have an Oscar and be able to concentrate on being herself.
The greedy monster I have seen lately will be subdued.

Most Anticipated - Picture

These are the films that most tickle my fancy in the upcoming year. Will any be nominated for Oscar? Who can say? Do I want to see all of these? HELL YEAH!

'9'
I am not a Tim Burton fan, but there was something in the trailer that made me think this would be a film with something to say. I do love my haunting animation.

'Avatar'
James Cameron makes a film after 12 years and it is supposedly going to blow the way we look at cinema out of the water. I am so there.

'The Box'
I was not ready to give up of Richard Kelly after the poor response to his last effort. This has the potential to be one of the best films of the year.

'The Cove'
After being raved at Sundance I for one am there. Any environmentally aimed slice of cinema is going to get me excited, even if this is sometimes to harrowing to watch.

'Gake no ue no Ponyo' ('Ponyo on a Cliff')
If your imagination has no bounds and you want to be transported to another world, this is supposed to be the film for you. Anything by Hayao Miyazaki is a must see.

'Los Abrazos Rotos'
Pedro + Penelope in a drama/thriller. Do I need to explain why this is going to be one of 2009's hot tickets?

'The Lovely Bones'
The book was wonderful. In the hands of Peter Jackson who can tell a drama ('Heavenly Creatures') superbly and who has no end to his imagination, this should be special.

'Nine'
The all star cast, the prestige, the music. Everyone who is anyone is at least curious as to how this will play.

'Push: Based on a novel by Sapphire'
Duh. I am not expecting perfection at all, but I am expecting to be moved. And that can do so much more.

'Taking Woodstock'/'A Little Game'
The Woodstock film or the relationship film? Either one is going to be an event. Ang has not directed a bad film yet.

'The Tree of Life'
Terrence Malick knows how to direct a lyrical and beautiful film. I just look forward to being able to sit back and take it all in.

'Up'
Pixar comes out with a new film. This should be on everyone's list.

'Watchmen'
Most likely the biggest film even of the year for the masses. Will Snyder come out victorious. More importantly will it dominate the box office?

'Where The Wild Things Are'
Be prepared to re-live your childhood.

'X-Men Origins: Wolverine'
I love the X-Men stories so I am totally excited about this. Plus any excuse to gawk at Hugh.

Cat Lovers Only

If you own a cat and love it to bits, these wonderfully witty and oh so true little animated films are surely to tickle you pink! Visit Simon Tofield's site here

'TV Dinner' rings loud and true. This is like a combination of my two little lovelies, Sophie and Murphy (we kept their names after rescuing them. They were adults already and I fear an identity crisis looming if I started calling them Bamboo and Loquat).
If only all the animated shorts were this true and funny.



'Cat-Man-Do' is my morning ritual minus the baseball bat (I do not have one).

Most Anticipated - Lead Actress

Abigail Breslin - 'My Sisters Keeper'
Playing the role of a child conceived purely to act as a devise to keep her older sister alive is bait with a 'B'.

Angela Bassett - 'Mama Black Widow'
The title along has me dribbling. At this point only a rumor though.

Anna Paquin - 'Margaret'
Been delayed FOREVER!!! Apparently it will come out this year. Advance word on her is very strong.

Audrey Tatou - 'Coco Avant Chanel'
I can imagine her being wonderous in this.

Carey Mulligan - 'An Education'
A Sundance break out star. Cannot wait to see what all the fuss is about.

Emily Watson - 'Within the Whirlwind'
IT is about time she had another juicy role. The film sounds small, but that hasn't stopped her before.

Gabourey 'Gabby' Sibide - 'Push'
Like you need to ask

Helen Mirren - 'The Tempest' or 'Love Ranch' or 'The Last Station'
The woman has like a gazillion chances this year. Which will it be.

Keira Knightley - 'Last Night' or 'London Boulevard'
She ditches period. Will all the promise of the last few years stick?

Meryl Streep - 'Julie and Julia'
It sounds like a hoot. yes I said hoot. But it does!

Penelope Cruz - 'Los Abrazos Rotos'
Ugh, she will tear up the screen.

Saoirse Ronan - 'The Lovely Bones'
A difficult role in a difficult film. Peter Jackson thinks she is right.